Speed reporting for providing conditional driver treatment

• US 20100045452A1
• Filed: 08/22/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neeraj Periwal
• Original Assignee: Neeraj Periwal
• Inventors: Periwal, Neeraj
• Granted Patent: US 8,248,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling

Abstract

A business process is disclosed whereby the driver of a motor vehicle receives conditional treatment from an external organization based on his or her driving habits as recorded by a speed detection and logging system on the driver'"'"'s vehicle and then transmitted to the organization. A government organization may provide a provisional or probationary license allowing a driver to operate a vehicle while the driver'"'"'s driving habits meet certain requirements. An automobile insurance company may use this process to adjust insurance rates for a driver. A rental car company may use this process to offer lower rental rates and/or lower insurance rates to good drivers. A company employing professional drivers may use this process to monitor its drivers. Logs of driving habits, which may take into account weather conditions, may be shown using a map display in order to provide feedback regarding a driver'"'"'s driving behavior.

Claims

1. A method for providing conditional treatment to a motor vehicle driver with respect to his or her interactions with a government agency, comprising the steps of:

continuously determining the speed and location of the vehicle being driven by said driver;

determining the presence of an alert condition by comparing the speed of the vehicle with the legal speed limit at a location;

logging alert conditions over a period of time to determine a pattern of driving behavior for said driver;

periodically transmitting an alert condition to said government agency;

providing conditional treatment to said driver based on the driver'"'"'s pattern of driving behavior; and

wherein a system within said vehicle determines vehicle speed, vehicle location, the speed limit at a location, and the presence of an alert condition, and wherein said system communicates with the government agency through a communications link.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the government agency provides a provisional license to a driver who is learning to drive, under a certain age, or over a certain age, and whereby restrictions on the driver'"'"'s provisional license are reduced as long as the driver'"'"'s pattern of driving behavior meets certain requirements.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein an alert condition reflects vehicle speeds exceeding an upper speed threshold and also reflects vehicle speeds that are below a lower speed threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the government agency provides a provisional license to a driver who has had his or her driver'"'"'s license suspended, and whereby the driver is allowed to drive as long as his or her pattern of driving behavior meets certain requirements.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be automatically varied according to local weather conditions.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein locations of alert conditions are logged and made available by means of a map display where alert locations are marked on the map along with information representing one or more attributes regarding the alert conditions.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the government agency provides reduced license or vehicle registrations fees as long as the driver'"'"'s pattern of driving behavior meets certain requirements.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the system within said vehicle that determines vehicle speed, vehicle location, and the presence of alert conditions also keeps a log of the cumulative distance driven for the vehicle, and wherein the government agency charges vehicle registration fees for said vehicle in response to the cumulative distance driven.

9. A method for providing conditional treatment to a motor vehicle driver with respect to his or her interactions with an organization, comprising the steps of:

continuously determining the speed and location of the vehicle being driven by said driver;

determining the presence of an alert condition by comparing the speed of the vehicle with the legal speed limit at a location;

logging alert conditions over a period of time to determine a pattern of driving behavior for said driver;

periodically transmitting an alert condition to said organization;

providing conditional treatment to said driver based on the driver'"'"'s pattern of driving behavior; and

wherein a system within said vehicle determines vehicle speed, vehicle location, the speed limit at a location, and the presence of an alert condition, and wherein said system communicates with the organization through a communications link.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the organization is an insurance company and the conditional treatment comprises providing preferential insurance rates as long as the driver'"'"'s pattern of driving behavior meets certain requirements.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be automatically varied according to local weather conditions.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein locations of alert conditions are logged and made available by means of a map display where alert locations are marked on the map along with information representing one or more attributes regarding the alert conditions.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the organization is a rental car company and the conditional treatment comprises providing preferential rental or insurance rates as long as the driver'"'"'s pattern of driving behavior meets certain requirements.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be automatically varied according to local weather conditions.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein locations of alert conditions are logged and made available by means of a map display where alert locations are marked on the map along with information representing one or more attributes regarding the alert conditions.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the organization is a company employing professional drivers and the conditional treatment comprises monitoring a driver'"'"'s pattern of driving behavior to ensure that said driving behavior meets certain requirements.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be automatically varied according to local weather conditions.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein locations of alert conditions are logged and made available by means of a map display where alert locations are marked on the map along with information representing one or more attributes regarding the alert conditions.

19. A method for providing conditional treatment of a motor vehicle driver with respect to his or her interactions with an organization, comprising the steps of:

continuously determining the speed and location of the vehicle being driven by said driver;

determining the presence of an alert condition by comparing the speed of the vehicle with the legal speed limit at a location;

logging alert conditions over a period of time to determine a pattern of driving behavior for said driver;

periodically transmitting an alert condition to said organization;

providing conditional treatment to said driver based on the driver'"'"'s pattern of driving behavior; and

wherein;

a system within said vehicle determines vehicle speed, vehicle location, the speed limit at a location, and the presence of an alert condition;

said system communicates with the organization through a communications link;

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be automatically varied according to local weather conditions; and

locations of alert conditions are logged and made available by means of a map display where alert locations are marked on the map along with information representing one or more attributes regarding the alert conditions.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein an alert condition may be deferred for a temporary period of time.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein:

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be adjusted according to the type of vehicle;

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be adjusted according to the time of day, day of the week, or date;

an adjusted speed limit indication is provided to the driver based on the vehicle type, the time of day, the day of the week, date, and local weather conditions;

a speed reduction of the vehicle may be forced according to an alert condition;

the intensity of an alert notification to the driver may be altered in response to the severity of an alert condition;

the intensity of an alert notification may be altered in response to the ambient conditions of the driver'"'"'s environment; and

an alert notification provided to the driver may include at least one of an audible, visual, kinesthetic, or olfactory alert.